Atomizer for liquid under pressure



Sept. 11, 19.45. G. B. HoL'rzcLAw 2,384,579

ATOMIZER FOR LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE Filed-NOV. 20, 1944 Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A'roMIzER FOR LIQUID UNDER `1 RssURE Grover B. Holtzclaw, Charlotte, N. (Lassignorl to Parks-Cramer Company, Fitchburg,v Mass.,

a corporation of Massachusetts u n Application Novemlwr 2o, 1944,`s'er'ia1 No. 564,219 11 Claims. (Cl. 299-59) This invention relates to automatically controllable atomizers for vaporizing liquids and especially to those for delivering moisture to an enclosure to maintain the atmosphere thereof closely at a predetermined uniform condition of humidity.

The general object of the invention is to provide an atomizer of simple and economical con- -struction and capable of long life with a minimum of repairs and which will be more accurately regulated to maintain a desired vaporization of liquid.

More particularly the invention relates to improvements in atomizers of the types disclosed in the patents to Herman F. Simon No. 2,186,214 granted January 9, 1940, for Liquid atomizing devices and No,A 2,362,102 granted November 7, 1944, for Self-cleaning atomizer. In the construction disclosed in Patent No. 2,186,214 a jet of liquid is produced by the inspiration of a surrounding jet of air under pressure and the operation of the atomizer is controlled by regulation of the pressure of the atomizing air acting upon a single diaphragm. In atomizers of this type the atomizing air must be maintained at a high pressure to cause inspiration of the liquid and the vaporization thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an atomizer of the single diaphragm type in which a saving of air consumption and cost of operation is reduced by supplying the atomizer with air and liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressures much less than that required for the operation of atomizers in which the liquid is supplied to the atomizer by inspiration of the surrounding jet of air.

The atomizer disclosed in Patent No. 2,362,102 is adapted to be supplied with liquid and air un: der correlated superatmospheric pressures which are automatically controlled to maintain the same correlation while the pressures are varied in accordance with the desired amount of vaporization. In that construction air and liquid chambers are respectively provided with yieldable walls, such as diaphragms, the operations Vof which are controlled by conjoint variations in said correlated pressures to produce the desired amount of atomization of the liquid. Such atomizers are of expensive construction and the object of the present invention is to eliminate certain' of the parts thereof and to provide a more accurate operation of the atomizer and also to provide a more simple and e'icient means for cleaning the air and Water outlets.

The self-cleaning atomizer is disclosed in Patent No. 2,362,102 as embodied in a system for vaporizing water Within an enclosure with regulating means responsive to the condition of humidity of, said atmosphere for controlling the correlated pressures of the airV and water, thereby to main a substantially uniform predetermined condition ,of humidity of the air of the enclosure. The atomizer of the present invention differs from that` disclosed in Patent No. 2,362,102 in that the atomizer comprises a head having an air nozzle and a cooperating liquid nozzle and chambers rrespectively for air and liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressures adapted to communicate with the respective nozzles and a single resiliently yieldable wall for the liquid chamber with means respectively operable by the movements thereof to control the communication of both the liquid chamber with the liquid nozzle and the communication of the air chamber with the air nozzle in accordance with the Vliquid pressure, said movements of the diaphragm preferably also being adapted to actuate mechanisms for cleaning both the outlets of the arand liquid nozzle.

Any suitable regulating mechanism may be provided vfor controlling` the operation of the atomizer of the present invention, such for example as that disclosed in the Simon Patent No. 2,362,- 102 to maintain a desired atomization while maintaining the same correlation of air and liquid pressures during the conjoint variation thereof in response to the,;humidity requirements of the atmosphere of the enclosure.

Aiurt'ner object of the invention is to provide an atomizer oi the character herein described having a single diaphragm actuated by the'pressure of the liquid which upon predetermined reduction of pressure will rst shut off the communication between Athe liquid chamber and the liquid'nozzleand upon further reduction of the pressure of the liquid will shut on communication of the air chamber with the air nozzle, thereby trapping-such airunder pressure as remains in the system, thus avoiding the necessity of free blovv valves for the air which have heretofore been required to prevent dripping of liquid from the atomizer, andthereby enabling the atomizer more promptly to resume operation upon increase in liquid pressure above said predetermined amount, and consequentlyefecting a still further saving in air consumption and cost of maintenance of operation.

Where liquid under superatmospheric pressure is supplied .to an atomizer the orifice of the liquid nozzle is necessarily smaller andinasmuch as even the best drinking water contains chemicals and occasionally dirt the smaller orifice becomes more easily clogged and requires more frequent and ehicient cleaning and the present invention therefore embodies more efficient means for cleaning the nozzle orice.

Another object of the invention is to provide simplified mechanism operated by the movement of the single diaphragm which is subject to liquid pressure which upon predetermined reduction of the liquid pressure Will successively discontinue the jet of liquid and the surrounding jet of air and successively clean the small "oriiice fof Vthe liquid nozzle and the liquid nozzle,

Another object of the invention is :to provide a construction in which the `iexing of the `diaphragm is decreased and a smaller area of the diaphragm subjected to wear, thusprolonging its active life. f

Inasmuch as atomizing air which is continuously --supplied to theatomizer by Aa compressor carries withl it some Voil andfvapors which-are detrimental toru-bber `containedin-the diaphr'agms one ofthe features "of theinventionis'lto minimize such Ydetrimental effect -byl'causing Athe e actuation of the single diaphragm by-- the liquid andin which the` opposite sideof the diaphragmis in contact witha coniined body of. air which containsnooil or other vapors,rthe`reby prolongingthe life of -the single diaphragm whichfcontrols the operation of the atomizer.

-Thesefand other objects and features 'of theinvention willmore'f-ully appear from the following description and the accompanyingdrawing-'and will be particularly pointed 'out in the claims.

A preferred form of atomizer embodying the invention is -illustratedin the accompanyingdrawing, it bei-ng understood that the-mechanism -for automatically :controlling the operation of the diaphragm may be similar `to that disclosed in Patent Nor-2,362,102, Aand need .notf-be illustrated herein.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged -view, mainly in vertical longitudinal section, lof a lpreferredeform of #atomizershowing theparts thereof in non-atomizing self-cleaning'positions;v and,

Fig. 2 is asimilar View of theatom'izer shown in Fig. 1, showing the parts thereofiinatomizing position.

A preferred form of fatomizer `for supplying moisture-to the atmosphere of anenclosure, which is illustrated in theldrawing-is of @pear-shape streamline construction comprising amainibody portion I anda hollow rear body portion'ZLjoined to it by a screwethreadedconnection 3 and a cap 4 which Vis vscrewed upon ah'ollow cylindrical :eX- tension '5 ofthe body I provides an air Ychamber 6. The cap I1 has an inwardly tapering rconical outlet 1 terminating in an annular shoulder 8. A disk -9 is clam-pcd between the shoulder and-the end of the extension 5 `and is provided with a central outlet Hl forming va nozzle communicating withthe-air chamber B.

Desirably the disk 9 is held in thecap -4 by a spring ring II which when the cap is 'assembled upon the extension is received ina peripheral recess in the extension. The main body. portion I hasfa vdownwardly extending v.screw threaded extension I2 adapted to be connected by 'a suitable union to a conduit for air under-.pressure anda suitable passage I3 leads from'said'extensi'on to theair chamber l. The rear portio'n 'of the body I is hollowed outy to provide a liquid chamber I4 and the body is provided withan aperture I 5 having a screw threaded wall adapted to receive a suitable union I6 by which it may be connected to a pipe for supplying liquid under pressure to the chamber I4.

The chamber I4 of the atomizer is provided with a resiliently yieldable wall adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the liquid in the liquid chamber. Means, operable by saidyieldable wall, controls the communication between the liquid chamber and a suitable liquid nozzle and also convtrols the communication between the air chamber and the air nozzle.

v4-In -the preferredembodiment of the invention illustrated herein the rear wall of the liquid chamberisin `the 'form of a diaphragm II, which is Vperi-pherally clamped in the joint between the main body I and the rear body portion 2, the rear-bodyportion-being provided with a chamber I8 complementary to the liquid chamber Ii to permit fleXure of the diaphragm.

fSuitableresilient means areprovided for backing the yielda'ble wall of the lliquid chamber against the pressure ofthe liquid therein. Inthe construction illustrated'a hollow cylindrical plunger I9, which is slidably mounted in a cylindrical bore in the rear body portion 2 of the atomizer, is provided with fa head 2ilwhich-engages the rear face of the diaphragm I'I and is backed by a strong spring ZI the oppositev end of which is seated upon a cylindrical block 2-2 which-abuts a preferably convergingly tapering end wall of the bore of the rear body member 2 of the atomizer.

An intern-ally screw threaded nut 23 abuts the head-23 of the plungeriQ and has-a cylindrical extension -2'4 which passes through the block 22 andv is provided witha reduced screw threaded end portion having Va-nut 25 which is adapted to engage the block 22 and limit the forward movement of thaplunger produced by ythe spring A2|. The head2@ -of the plunger has an annular ange 2S which upon rearward 4movement of the plunger is adapted to engage the shoulder 2l of an annular'rinternal recess-in the rear body member 2 to limit the rearward movement ofthefplunger.

Thediaphragm Ilis clamped upon the head 20 of the plunger'by` abolt having a preferably circular head 28 and ascrew -threaded stem-'29 which engages-the internal screw threads of the nut 23, the head-28 'being-provided with-flattened faces 30 adapted-.to be engaged by a ysuitable tool and rotated -to clampthe diaphragm on the `plunger head.

The head of the-bolt is provided with-a vconical extension A3i for-ming a valve for controlling the communication between the liquid chamber and a liquid nozzle 32vthrou-gh whichthe ietfof liquid under pressure isprojected.

The nozzle32, which preferably is of cylindrical form, is slidably mounted ina hub 33- in the main body portion of the atomizer in'axialalinement with -the air nozzle Il), vand aconically converging end portion 34 which-terminates in a cylindrical tip 35 adapted -to penetrate, clean and close the air nozzle. The tipportion of the liquid nozzle 'isprovided with a very small outlet -36 which) communicates with Va larger cylindrical bore 3l in the rtapering-.portion which in turn communica-tes` with 'a further Ienlarged cylindrical bore 38, the rear end of which communicates with the liquid chamber.

The-rear end of theliquid-nozzle -32 is providedwith a conical Valve seat39 Vcomplementary to-the-conical valve 3l which -is mounted upon the diaphragm I'I. The cylindrical portion ofthe liquid nozzle hasaa.-peripheral-iiange'40 which is adapted to engage the rear wall of the air chamber 6 and limit the rearward movement of the liquid nozzle to atomizing position, as illustrated in Fig. 2; A rearward converging light spring 4|, which is seated upon the disk 9, en# gages the ilange 40 of the liquid nozzle 32 and tends to force the nozzle rearwardly thereby to maintain the valve seat at the rear end thereof in engagement with the valve 3| until rearward movement of the nozzle is arrested by engagement of its ilange 40 with the rear wall of the air chamber 6. -r Y Suitable means are provided for cleaning the small outlet of the liquid nozzle when the pressure in the liquid chamber is reduced to a predetermined amount. In the preferred construction illustrated herein the valve 3| is of truncated conoidal form and a cylindrical cleaning rod 42, which is secured to or integral with the truncated end thereof, is slidably mounted in the larger cylindrical bore of the liquid nozzle and is provided with a slabbed-oi portion or portions 42m to permit ow of liquid from the liquid chamber through the nozzle when the nozzle is in atomizing position.

The rod 42 is provided with a reduced cylindrical end portion 43 adapted to lt the enlarged bore 31 of the nozzle and a cleaning wire 44, which is mounted in the end thereof, is adapted to penetrate and clean the small outlet 36 of the liquid nozzle upon predetermined reduction of the pressure in the liquid chamber I4.

In the operation of the atomizer-assuming that the parts are in the positionl shown in Fig. 1 in which the liquid nozzle penetrates and closes the air nozzle and the inlet port of the liquid nozzle is closed by the valve 3| under the influence of the spring 2| which backs the yieldable wall of the liquid chamber-when air and liquid under correlated superatmospheric pressures are introduced into the respective chambers of the atomizer, the resiliently yieldable wall of the liquid chamber will be forced rearwardly against the pressure of the spring 2|. At the same time the light spring 4| will force the liquid nozzle rearwardly maintaining the inlet port thereof in closed engagement with the valve 3| and the outlet of the liquid nozzle also closed by the cleaning rod and the wire thereof' which extends through the liquid nozzle until the ilange 40 of the liquid nozzle engages the shoulder at the base of the air chamber 6 and the liquid nozzle is then in atomizing position with air under pressure flowing through the air outlet i6. Further increase in pressure in the liquid chamber will force its yieldable wall rearwardly, thereby removing the valve 3| from engagement with the port 39 of the liquid nozzle and withdrawing the cleaning rod and its cleaning wire from the outlet of the liquid nozzle, thus permitting a jet of liquid to be projected from the nozzle axially toward the air nozzle outlet. So long as sufiicient pressure oi the liquid is maintained in the liquid chamber the atomizer will continue to operate.

However, when such predetermined reduction of pressure of the liquid as will enable the spring 2| to force the liquid nozzle forwardly occurs, the valve 3| will engage the valve seat 39 of the liquid nozzle, thereby shutting on the supply of liquid from the liquid chamber to the liquid nozzle and cause the cleaning wire to penetrate and clean the small outlet of the liquid nozzle. Upon continued reduction of the pressureof the'liquid, the heavy spring 2| will force the slidable liquid nozzle forwardly against the pressure of the` lighter spring 4| until thetipof the liquid nozzle penetrates, cleans and closes the air nozzle outlet. By reason of ,this construction the delivery of liquid from the'liquid chamber to the liquid nozzle is shut oft in 'advance of the discontinuance of the delivery of air under pressure from the air chamber through the air nozzle, thus preventing dripping of the atomizer.

When in the operation of the device in a humidiiying system communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid nozzle and the air chamber and the air nozzle are successively discontinued upon predetermined reduction in pressures, some pressure remains on the water in the system and air under pressure is trapped in the system when the operation of the humidifier is discontinued so that when air and liquid under higher correlated pressures are supplied to the respective air and liquid chambers, atomization is more promptly established than in usual systems in which free-blow valves in which the conduit for the airunder pressure is provided with a free-blow valve. This also results in reducing the amount of power required to replace the air wasted throughvthe free-blow valve. A moreaccurate controlV ofi atomization is effected by the present invention; than in atomizers heretofore produced, by reason of the fact that the movementsV of thediaphragm, or other yieldable wall of the liquid chamber,v and the mechanism operated thereby, is actuated by variations in the pressure of ali-quid which is non-compressible as distinguished from the actuation thereof by air which is highly elastic and therefore not capable of eiecting such prompt and accurate transmission or variations in air pressure to the yieldable wall. As a consequence, more accurate regulation of atomization in a humidifying system is maintained in accordance with the humidity requirementsoi the atmosphere of the enclosure.

By actuating the means for cleaning the air and liquid nozzles respectively 4from the movements ofthe single yieldable wall of the liquid cham- -ber in sequence with the shutting off of the communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid nozzle and the air cham-ber and air nozzle respectively, prompt and effective cleaning of the nozzle outlets is insured. By thus utilizing the relative movements of the single yieldable wall of the liquid chamber to actuate the liquid nozzle and the cleaning mechanism an economical construction is provided and by actuating the singlediaphragm the atomizer by liquid pressure instead of air pressure longer life of the atomizer is insured than if the diaphragm were operated by air pressure.

It will therefore be apparent that numerous advantages are obtained over previous atomizer constructions.

While in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the yieldable wall of the liquid chamber is in the form of a diaphragm it' may be otherwise constructed as, for example, in theiorm of a resiliently backed plunger slidably fitting the bore of the rear portion of the atomizer head and provided with a valve and cleaning mechanism of the character described, or may lbe otherwise constructed to accomplish the purposes hereinset forth.

It will also abe understood that while air for atomizing liquid for humidifying the air of an enclosure has been particularly described hereinr that steam or other gaseous fluid under pressure correlated to the pressure of the liquid maybe Finally, it Will be understood that the particular embodiment of Athe invention'herein shown and described is of an illustrative character and that various modifications in construction and -arrangement of parts may be made -Within the meaning and scope of the `following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzle and a'cooperating liquid nozzle and'chambers respectively for airand liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressures ,actingrwhen in communication Withthe respective nozzles to supply-airvand liquid thereto, andra single resiliently yieldable member forming a Wall of 'the liquid chamber and means respectively operable by the movements thereof vto control both the communication of the liquid chamber with the liquid nozzle and the communication ofthe air chamber With therair nozzle in accordance with the liquid pressure.

2. An atomizer comprising ahead having an alr nozzle and a cooperating liquid nozzle slidably mounted in axial alinement therewith and chambers respectively for air and liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressures acting when in communication with the respective nozzles to supply air and liquid thereto, and a resiliently backed diaphragmforming a wall of the liquid chamber, and means respectively op erable by the movements thereof to control both the communication of the liquid chamber with theliquid nozzle and the communication ofthe air chamber with the air nozzle in accordance with the liquid pressure.

3. An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzle'and a cooperating liquid nozzlev slidably mounted in axial alinementtherewith and chambers respectively for air and liquid maintained under co-rrelated superatmospheric pressures acting when in communication with the respective nozzles to supply air -andfliquid thereto, a .resiliently backed diaphragm vformingy a Wall of the liquid chamber having means cooperating with said slidable liquid nozzle actin'gto control the communication of lthe liquid chamber with y the liquid nozzle and-the communication of the air chamber with the airnoz'zle in accordance Withthe liquid pressure andupon predetermined red-uction of said liquid pressure rstto shut oli communication of theY liquid chamber with the liquid nozzle and thereafter to shut 01T communication of the air chamber with the air nozzle.

4. An atomizer comprising a head having a chamber for air under superatmosphericpressure provided with an air nozzle, achamber for a liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressure, a liquid nozzle slidably mounted'in said head in axial alinement with said'alr nozzle'have ing at one end means to close'sa'id air'nozzle and at its other end an inlet port communicating with said liquid chamber, a single diaphragm forming a-wall of the liquid chamber Iand having a 'valve for said inlet port movable to open'positionby sai-d diaphragm in response to the liquid pressure in said liquid chamber, and Vresilientlme'ans acting upon said diaphragm operable uponr predetermined reductionof said liquidpressure tocause the valve .to close said inlet port yand 'theree afterto-cause the liquidnozzleto closefsaidair nozzle. v,

masacre -5..An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzleand a cooperating liquid nozzle and chambers acting when in communication with the respective nozzles to supply air and liquid under pressure thereto, a diaphragm forming a wall of the liquid chamber, a cleaning member for said air nozzle, a cleaning member for said liquid nozzle' and means acting upon said diaphragm operable upon predetermined .reduction of said liquid pressure to actuate the cleaning members and clean 'both the air nozzle and the liquid nozzle.

6.'An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzle and a cooperating liquid nozzle and chambers `acting when in communication with the respective nozzles to supply air and liquid under pressure thereto, a diaphragm forming a wall oi the liquid chamber, a cleaning member for said air nozzle, a cleaning member for said liquid nozzle and a spring acting upon said diaphragm to actuate the cleaning members to clean both the air nozzle and thevliquid nozzle.

7. An atomizer .comprisinga head having an air nozzle and a cooperating liquid nozzle and chambers acting when in communication With the respective nozzles to supply air and liquid under pressure thereto, a diaphragm forming a Wall of the liquid chamber, a cleaning member for said air nozzle, a cleaning member for said liquid nozzle connected to said diaphragm, and a spring acting upon said diaphragm to actuate the cleaning members and clean both the air nozzle .and the liquid nozzle.

8. An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzle and a cooperating liquid nozzle and chambers respectively for air and liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressures acting when in communication with the IveSDeCtVe nozzles to supply air and liquid thereto, adiaphragm forming a wall of the liquid chamber, a cleaning member for the-air nozzle, a cleaning member for the liquid nozzle, and means acting upon'said diaphragm operable upon predetermined reduction of said liquid pressure to actuate both the cleaning members and clean respectively the air nozzle and the liquid nozzle.

9. An atomizer comprising a head having a chamber for air under superatmospheric pressure provided with an air nozzle, a chamber for liquid maintained under correlated superatmospheric pressure, a liquid nozzle slidably mounted in said head having at one end means to penetrate, clean and closek said `air nozzle and having at its other end an inlet port communicating with said liquid chamber,a single diaphragm forming a wall of said liquid chamber having a valve for said inlet port and provided with a cleaning member for said liquid nozzle movable by said diaphragm in response to said liquid pressure to open said valve and Withdraw the cleaning member from the outlet of the liquid nozzle, and resilient means acting on said diaphragm operable upon predetermined reduction of said liquid pressure to cause the valve to close said inlet port and to cause the cleaning member thereafter to penetrate and clean the outlet of the liquid nozzle.

10.,An atomizer comprising a head having a chamber for air under superatmospheric pressure providedwith an air nozzle, a chamber for liquid maintained under correlated -superatmospheric pressure, a liquid nozzle slidably mounted in said head having at one end means to penetrate, clean and close said, air nozzle and having at its other endY an inlet port communicating with said liquid chamber, a single diaphragm, forming a Wall of said liquid chamber having a valve for said inlet port provided with a cleaning member for said liquid nozzle movable by said diaphragm in response to variations in said liquid pressure, resilient means acting upon said liquid nozzle during the preliminary admission of liquid under vpressure to said liquid chamber to hold the inlet port of said liquid nozzle in engagement with said diaphragm valve, means for arresting said nozzle when in atomizing position to permit opening of said valve by further movement of said diaphragm, and resilient means acting upon said diaphragm operable upon predetermined reduc tion of said liquid pressure to cause said valve to close said inlet port and the cleaning member to penetrate and clean the outlet of the liquid nozzle and thereafter to cause said liquid nozzle to penetrate, clean and close said air nozzle.

1l. An atomizer comprising a head having an air nozzle and a co-operating liquid nozzle and chambers respectively for air and liquid maintained under correlated atmospheric pressures acting when in communication with the respective nozzles to supply thereto liquid and air for atomizing the liquid, means for controlling the communications between the respective air and liquid chambers and their respective nozzles, means for conjontly actuating the respective controlling means .comprising only a single diaphragm in said head forming a yieldable wall for the liquid chamber, subject to Variations in the pressure of the non-compressible liquid, and a spring backing said Wall loca-ted in a chamber in said head containing air free from oil or vapors detrimental to the material of the diaphragm which would shorten the life thereof.

GROVER B. HOLTZCLAW. 

